The second day of Russian Swimming Nationals produced some surprises and a few new names were added to the World Championship team roster. Daria K Ustinova managed to post a FINA World Junior Record again.
Women’s 200 backstroke finals
Daria K Ustinova did not fail to impress swimfans tonight. She posted a FINA World Junior Record in yesterday’s semifinals with a 2:09.21. She then dropped the time much lower with a 2:07.29 tonight to move to second in the world. It’s not the fastest time by such a youngster as Missy Franklin has the best time ever by a 17-and-under with a 2:04.06 world record in 2012, but FINA has refused to recognize that as the true World Junior Record for some reason. Only Emily Seebohm has been faster this year with a 2:06.69 from the Australian Championships.
Irina Prikhodko took silver in 2:10.55 tonight with Ekaterine Tomashevskaya taking bronze in 2:10.83. All of the women on the podium were 16 year olds.
Men’s 100 backstroke finals
With Russian men’s backstroke lacking many of its biggest names, including Arkady Vyatchanin now swimming for Serbia, the nation is definitely looking for some new blood to step up. Evgeny Rylov, 17, won the finale in 53.17 to move to fourth in the world. Only Chris Walker-Hebborn (52.88), Ryosuke Irie (52.99) and Mitch Larkin (53.10) have been faster. Rylov nearly broke Vyatchanin’s Russian record, missing by just 0.6 seconds.
Vyatchanin already congratulated Rylov on Twitter for the win.
Grigory Tarasevich took second tonight in 53.84 with Nikita Ulyanov earning third in 54.37.
Men’s 100 freestyle semifinals
One of Russia’s traditionally strong events provided a strong lineup and a tough battle to make the finale. Olympic medalist Vlad Morozov (48.36), Danila Izotov (48.59) and Andrey Grechin (48.76) picked up the top three seeds. Stepan Surkov, a new name within a well-known field, qualified fourth in 48.96. Olympians Alexander Sukhorukov (49.03) and Nikita Lobintsev (49.14), along with Alexander Popkov (49.49) and Mikhail Dovgalyuk (49.62) completed the final. Many familiar names in freestyle sprint – Sergey Fesikov, Oleg Tikhobaev and Artyom Lobuzov missed the final.
Men’s 200 breaststroke final
After a solid semifinal results of 2:08.98 put Ilya Khomenko fifth in the world rankings, he looked like the safe bet to win. Khomenko, however, took a loss to Anton Chupkov, 2:10.80 to 2:11.02. Marat Amaltdinov took bronze in 2:11.08.
Women’s 100 freestyle final
Belarus Alexandra Gerasimenya, an Olympic silver medalist of this event, and National Record holder Olympic finalist Veronika Popova were two top qualifiers of the event and expected to fight each other for the gold. Natalia Lovtsova, however, seemed an underdog of the race.
Swimming from lane three, Lovtsova grabbed the lead from the first meters and didn’t let anyone to get ahead of her. Even though Gerasimanya and Popova almost caught her at the finish, she touched them out and took gold in 54.15. Popova finished second 54.32 and a disappointed Gerasimenya placed third – 54.38.
Women’s 200 breaststroke semifinals
After the show Yuliya Efimova put up in yesterday’s sessions, with three world bests in a row in the 50 breast, she performed in her another main event where she was a World medalist in, 200 breast, and qualified second behind Vitalina Simonova (2.25.48) with a decent time of 2.25.68. Efimova easily won her semifinal and seemed to have a lot left for tomorrow’s finals. Sofia Andreeva and Maria Astashkina, along with yesterday’s 50 breast medalist Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes completed top 5 seeds.
Other results:
W400 free final
1. Arina Opyonysheva 4.09.91
2. Valeria Salamatina 4.12.95
3. Darya Mullakaeva 4.13.76
W200 fly final
1. Maria Arsenyeva 2.12.89
2. Lada Bragina 2.15.27
3. Darya Shmakova 2.16.17
M200IM semi
1. Alexander Osipenko 2.01.82
2. Semyon Makovich 2.01.94
3. Dmitry Gorbunov 2.01.98
M200fly semi
1. Alexander Kudashev 1.56.78
2. Danila Pakhomov 1.56.97
3. Evgeny Koptelov 1.57.78
4. Alexander Prybytok 1.58.12
5. Alaxander Kharlanov 1.58.90
6. Nikolay Skvortsov 1.59.86
7. Andrey Tambovsky 2.01.07
8. Andrey Maslov 2.01.25
2015 Russian Swimming Championships, Day 2 (Russian) – Results
Yulia Rezchik